NEWS BRIEFS

HAZELTON FIREFIGHTERS – The Hazelton Fire Department is seeking additional men and women to serve on its department as volunteer, on-call firefighters. It is looking for candidates specifically available for daytime hours. Training is provided by the county and the department. Residents must live in Hazelton Township and be at least 18 years old, preferably with a high school diploma. The entire process takes around nine months with training beginning near October, and certification and graduation in April. The fire department is located at 9508 E. Genesee St. in New Lothrop; the phone number is (810) 638-5550. For more information or to receive an application, contact fire chief Brad Cesal at (810) 459-4911 or htfd517@gmail.com.

STC SCHOOLS OPEN HUMAN TRAFFICKING FORUM - St. Charles Community Schools will host a Human Trafficking Community Awareness event on Thursday, March 19. All area residents are invited. Jessica Behmlander, BS-S, RN, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE), of Covenant Healthcare, will be the designated speaker. The forum will start at 6:30 p.m. at the high school. Topics will include: the definition of human trafficking; its prevalence nationwide/statewide; warning signs: social media and what to look out for; how to identify victims and what to do if we do; and a story of a survivor who was trafficked for five years. For more information on human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at (888) 373-7888.

TRI-TOWNSHIP NEEDS FIGHTERS – The Tri-Township Fire Department is seeking area residents to serve on the fire department. It is seeking upwards of 16 paid, on-call firefighters in order to fulfill its roster of around 45. Currently the roster is only at 29. Though it is seeking those able to work daytime hours the department is open to anyone willing to train. Training is provided by the department. Residents must live in Brant Township, St. Charles, Swan Creek or south of Nelson Road in Fremont Township. It begins mid-December and the academy ends in April. The entire process to becoming a fire fighter takes around six months, though fighters receiving ongoing training their entire career. The Academy is held at the Saginaw Township Fire Department. The department is led by Chief Pat Harley and Assistant Chief Rick Beeler. It is located at 1106 W. Spruce St. in St. Charles. For more information or to receive an application, stop by the department or call (989) 865- 9181.

VILLAGE/CHAMBER BUILDING – Plans for the joint Chesaning Village and Chesaning Chamber of Commerce office building are moving forward. The deed and title to the property are expected to be transferred on Monday, March 12. During a Tuesday, March 6 meeting, the Chesaning Village Council approved a contract with Metro Construction to turn the existing chamber of commerce building into a building shared by the village and chamber. Village President Joseph Sedlar, Jr. explained that the contractor has waited almost a year for this contract. Due to the delay in activating the contract, a 10 percent increase was added to the bid for a total of $327,700. Construction is expected to begin this spring. The shared office building provides advantages for both village and chamber. The village’s current office building, 1100 W. Broad St., is in need of a new roof and other costly improvements. The new location, 218 N. Front St., will provide cost savings for both organizations.

CHARTER TOWNSHIP – During the Thursday, March 8 meeting of the Chesaning Township Board, trustee Bill Hedrich suggested they consider looking into charter township status. This was in response to the annexation of the former Peet Packing Plant property, which is expected to be finalized by the Saginaw County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, March 20. Chesaning Township supervisor Bob Corrin said he was very disappointed in county commissioner Kyle Harris, who sent the township an email saying he was going to vote against the township board in the annexation dispute. During public comment, Chesaning Township residents Fred and Sandy Fagan thanked the township board for standing up to the village. Sandy said they don’t want to be the marijuana capitol of Michigan.

REAPPOINTMENTS – On Thursday, March 8, the Chesaning Township Board reappointed several individuals serving on the planning commission, zoning board of appeals and fire board. Matthew Mallory and Brian White were reappointed to three-year terms on the planning commission; which expire in 2021. Gary Azelton and Terry Gross were reappointed to three-year terms on the township’s zoning board of appeals. Mary VanLoon was reappointed to a two-year term on the Chesaning-Brady Fire Board.

BUDGET APPROVED – The Chesaning Township Board approved the 2018-2019 fiscal year budget during its Thursday, March 8 meeting. The proposed general fund budget was adopted in the amount of $581,900. This included board member salaries as follows: township supervisor -$9,000 annually; clerk - $20,400 (which includes a $1,200 raise); treasurer - $19,200 (which includes a $1,000 raise); and trustees at $2,460 each per year. Trustee Ken Hornak commented that this was the first time the trustees had gotten any raise since he got on the board. Trustee Peter Hemgesberg said supervisor Bob Corrin, clerk Fran Kukulis and treasurer Cathy Gross do a lot of work for the township and they keep office hours. The board approved the salary schedule for the board members, as well as other township staff. Building permits, grave openings/closings and other fees remain the same for 2018-2019.